Foundations of American Democracy and Government Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering foundational principles, historic documents, Enlightenment thinkers, political concepts, and governmental structures from Unit 1.

Government

The institution through which a society makes and enforces public policies.

Legislative Power

The power to make laws, held federally by Congress (House and Senate) and at the state level by state legislatures (Assembly and Senate).

Executive Power

The power to enforce laws, held federally by the President, Vice President, and Bureaucracy, and at the state level by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and State Bureaucracy.

Judicial Power

The power to interpret laws, held federally by the Supreme Court and federal courts, and at the state level by state courts.

Dictatorship

A form of government that is not accountable to its people, which can exist as an autocracy or an oligarchy.

Autocracy

A form of dictatorship characterized by rule of one person.

Oligarchy

A form of dictatorship characterized by rule of a few people.

Democracy

A system of government where power comes from the people and the government rules with the consent of the governed.

Direct Democracy

A form of government where people directly make decisions and vote on laws, such as in ancient Athens (500 B.C.) or New England town meetings.

Indirect Democracy

A form of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, as seen in the U.S. today.

Federal Government

A division of power between state and federal governments, as seen in the United States federalism system.

Democratic Republic

A system of government in which citizens elect leaders to represent them and make decisions on their behalf.

Magna Carta (1215)

A historic English document that limited the power of the king, ensured no one was above the law, and introduced due process and trial by jury.

Charters of the Virginia Company of London (1606, 1609, 1612)

Documents that granted American colonists the same rights as English citizens and permitted self-governance in the colonies.

English Bill of Rights (1689)

A document that strengthened Parliament and the rule of law while expanding citizen rights like free speech, fair trials, and protection against cruel punishment.

Age of Enlightenment

An intellectual movement in 1600s and 1700s Europe emphasizing that knowledge can be learned by humans, who are equal, free, and capable of self-governance.

John Locke

An Enlightenment philosopher who argued that people have universal natural rights (life, liberty, property), religious freedom, and form governments through a social contract.

Thomas Hobbes

An Enlightenment philosopher who argued that government and strong authority are necessary to maintain order and prevent chaos.

Social Contract

An agreement in which people surrender some freedoms to the government in exchange for protection, giving legitimacy to government authority.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

An Enlightenment thinker who advocated for popular sovereignty, believing governments must follow the will of the people and depend on equality and consent.

Baron de Montesquieu

An Enlightenment philosopher who proposed the separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent any single group from obtaining too much control.

Iroquois Confederacy

An alliance of Indigenous nations whose cooperative structure demonstrated how unity among distinct groups could work, influencing the American concept of federalism.

Constitution of Virginia (1776)

A foundational document that focused on protecting individual freedoms (press, religion, property) and introduced checks and balances.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

A document adopted July 4, 1776, declaring freedom from Britain, stating grievances against King George III, and asserting natural rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Articles of Confederation (1781–1789)

America's first government system that emphasized state sovereignty but created a weak central government lacking the power to tax or enforce laws.

Separation of Powers

A principle inspired by Montesquieu that divides government responsibilities into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Checks and Balances

A principle that ensures each branch of government possesses mechanisms to limit the powers of the other branches.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that government power originates from the will and consent of the people.

Natural Rights

Universal rights inherent to human beings—such as life, liberty, and property or the pursuit of happiness—that are not granted by governments.

Federalism

A division and balance of government power between state and national levels.

Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776)

A document written by George Mason protecting rights like freedom of religion, press, and fair trials, which inspired the U.S. Bill of Rights.

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1786)

A document authored by Thomas Jefferson that established the separation of church and state and guaranteed religious freedom for all citizens.

Rationalism

The philosophical belief in using human reason to improve lives and discover truth.

Republicanism

A political belief system where power rests with citizens through elected representatives, the government protects citizen rights, and citizens contribute to the public good.

Rule of Law

The democratic principle that all individuals, including political leaders, must abide by the law.

Self-Government

The core democratic principle where citizens govern themselves by electing their own leaders.

Consent of the Governed

The idea that a government's authority requires the approval and permission of the people it rules.

Freedom

The power to act, speak, or think freely within the boundaries of the law.

Agency

An individual's ability to make free choices and act independently.

Advocacy

Efforts made by individuals or groups to influence decisions and bring about change in society.

Equality Under the Law

The democratic principle that all citizens are treated equally without discrimination, enjoying equal voting rights and equal access to public services.

Majority Rule

A democratic decision-making principle where choices reflect what most people want.

Minority Rights

Protections guaranteed by government to ensure smaller or less popular groups maintain their essential rights against majority rule.

Compromise

The process of finding a middle ground so diverse groups can reach agreement and sustain governance.

Power

The practical ability to influence individuals, decisions, or outcomes.

Authority

The official or legal right to exercise power and enforce decisions.

Governance

The process by which governments make and enforce laws to maintain public order and security.

Citizenship

The full set of rights, duties, and responsibilities associated with being a recognized member of a nation or democracy.

Constitutional Republic

A form of government limited by a constitution, whose leaders are elected by citizens, such as in the United States.

Presidential System

A democratic framework where an elected president serves as the head of government, distinct and separate from the legislature.

Parliamentary System

A democratic framework where the executive leader (prime minister) is chosen by the legislature, as seen in the United Kingdom or Canada.